𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

I Love You, She Hates Me.

𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞

For lunch we were having white rice, beans, sausages and short ribs with fried plantains, fried eggs and sliced avacados on the side. In Colombia our lunches mostly consisted of carbohydrates and protein. Rice, beans, meat and vegetables were standard in any lunch menu, in restaurants and in private homes.

When lunch started Andrès gave up his seat and went to sit next to Theodore so there was an extra seat for Adella. She sat on my right and Valentino on my left. Two of the most important people in my life and I was in the middle. Literally.

"These short ribs are delectable," Sabrina said. "Our personal chef Ria makes short ribs for us at home but they're not nearly as good as this. What's your secret?"
"It's the seasoning," Tía Sofia chuckled. "We have our own special blend that we use in all our cooking. We season our meat with it too. With short ribs you can rub the seasoning in all those nooks and crannies and when it cooks all the flavors blend together."
"Well I love it. I also love the-"

"For the love of God! What are you, some kind of judge for a cooking show?" Andriana exclaimed. "Since last night you've been commenting on every piece of food that passed your lips. Can't you just eat your food and stay quiet like everyone else?!"

"It's called appreciation, Andriana. Something you know absolutely nothing about," I said. "When a person eats the food prepared by another they express their gratitude and joy by telling them how much they enjoyed their food. What do you think the phrase 'compliments to the chef' was invented for?"
"Don't start with me Jasmine," Andriana  snapped. "I am in a foul mood as is. Don't do anything to piss me off."

"If you're in a 'fowl' mood why not spend some time with the chickens? I'm sure that cheer you up," Adella grinned.
"Hahahahahaha! Fowl mood! That's good," Theodore chortled.
"I can see you're the jokester in the family Theodore."
"In a manner of speaking. But Dean is the real jokester."

"Please," Andrès snorted. "If Dean were to tell any of his jokes in a comedy club they'd egg him and his car."
"Who's Dean?" Adella asked. "Another member of your family?"
"He's one of Valentino's cousins. All of his family members live in Brooklyn. The rest are in Italy. Mom and I live with them too."
"What are you saying Andrès?" Abuela asked. "Do you mean to tell me you and your mother live separately, away from your father?"

Andrès froze and glanced at Mom who stopped eating and had her fork suspended in the air. Clearly she didn't want anyone in the family to know about this. They weren't aware of Father's infidelity. To them he and Mom were still married and living together. Not only that after Andriana hurt Andrès and he left Cobble Hill the two of them haven't been back there.

"Rebecca I want some answers," Abuela said sternly. "Why is Andrès living away from his father and you from your husband? Have you forgotten that you are a married woman? Or has being in America made you forget the duties, responsibilities and obligations you have to this family? Answer me!"

"Abuela you have it all wrong," I started to say. "Mom didn't-"
"¡Silencio! Not one word out of you Jasmine. You may be married but that doesn't mean you have the right to stick your nose in adult conversation. I don't know what you learnt while living in America but in this house, in this family, a married woman is to stay with her husband no matter the circumstances."
"But-"

Adella grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed gently. I closed my mouth and turned back to my food. Mom was going to take the heat for something she didn't even do. She left that place not for her own sake, but for Andrès. He felt unsafe living under the same roof as Andriana and Kazimir. That's why she never went back after the two of them came to the mansion.